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RedHawks facing formidable foe in finals

Top-ranked Boston University 20-1-3 since Jan. 16.

AP photos/Miami of Ohio defenseman Will Weber takes a shot during a practice at the NCAA Frozen Four college hockey tournament at the Verizon Center in Washington, Friday, April 10, 2009. Miami of Ohio plays Boston University in the national championship on Saturday.

AP photos/Miami of Ohio goalie Connor Knapp eyes they puck during practice at the NCAA Frozen Four college hockey tournament at the Verizon Center in Washington, Friday, April 10, 2009. Miami of Ohio plays Boston University in the national championship on Saturday.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 3:29 AM Saturday, April 11, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this week Miami University hockey coach Enrico Blasi tried without much luck to convince the media that his RedHawks should be considered the underdog in their NCAA Frozen Four game against Bemidji State.

After a 4-1 victory over the Beavers, Miami has another Frozen Four game and this time, Blasi won’t have trouble convincing anyone.

If the RedHawks want to win the school’s first NCAA championship tonight, April 11, they’ll have to do it against the team universally acclaimed as the deepest, most talented team in college hockey. Top-ranked Boston University is the Beast from the East.

The Terriers, the NCAA Tournament’s overall No. 1 seed, came from behind to beat Vermont 5-4 in the second semifinal Thursday.

That victory makes the Terriers 20-1-3 since Jan. 16. They are undefeated (16-0-2) in their last 18 games away from home. This will be Boston’s 10th appearance in the national championship game.

BU coach Jack Parker was asked at which point of the season did he believe he had a championship team.

“When Wilson and Gilroy came back,” Parker said, referring to sophomore forward Colin Wilson and senior defenseman Matt Gilroy, both of whom decided not to turn pro. Wilson ranks second in the nation in scoring and both were finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which honors the nation’s top college player.

Miami, like BU, is on a roll now with three straight victories in the NCAA Tournament, but it hasn’t been a sustained streak. Over their last 10 games the RedHawks are 5-4-1.

“We’re a No. 4 (regional) seed, there is no denying that,” Miami senior forward Justin Mercier said, “and they are the No. 1 (overall) seed. But at this point of the year I really don’t think you can call anyone an underdog. Everyone is here for a reason.”

Mercier said he and some of his teammates have noticed that few people in the media have been talking about Miami. Most of the hype coming in was about Bemidji State, and on Friday most of the buzz around the Verizon Center was about Boston’s comeback the night before.

“It’s something we’ve talked about in the locker room,” Mercier said. “If we go out there and play our game, people will have to talk about Miami.”

Sophomore forward Carter Camper, who leads Miami in scoring (20-20-40), said he doesn’t mind that the RedHawks seem to be flying under the radar so far.

“That’s fine,” Camper said. “After we put ourselves out of the CCHA (Tournament), not too many people gave us a chance in Minneapolis.”

“We’re prepared, we’re ready,” said senior defenseman Michael Findorff. “For our senior class, this has been four years in the making.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

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